Brazil's Amazon drought disrupts residents' lives

16/9/2024 11:46

        Severe droughts across Brazil's Amazon rainforest region are drastically altering residents' lives as mobility is hampered by record-low levels on upper stretches of the Amazon River.
        
        In the town of Manacapuru, near state capital Manaus, the drought has impacted navigation on the Solimoes River, which turns into the Amazon River just downstream and is a vital lifeline for transporting all kinds of goods in and out of the town.
        
        Boats stranded on sandbanks have become a common sight, hindering the transport of local goods such as fish, bananas, and cassava, as well as disrupting the logistics for bringing in basic items like food and water from outside.
        
        "We anchored the boat here, and it was stuck on dry land the next day. We had no way to move it,” said fisherman Josue Oliveira.
        
        Calling the situation critical, fisherman Francisco da Silva noted that the water has already started to turn green, a sign it may soon become unsafe to drink.